Omlet cube and run

[carrotspine]

Hi all

I am almost ready to choose my new chickens. I've never kept them before and already had lots of advice from the forums, thank-you to everyone. One thing that bothering me now though is the flooting for the chickens. We've decided to house them where our raised vegetable bed used to be and they will be standing on soil in the run, with having a section of the garden also to free range in. I've looked at various web sites and posts and confused between wood bark, wood chip and wood shavings! I want to get it right as I want my new pets to have a happy life. Also, where do you get it from, I'm in the Staffordshire Moorlands and to get a bulk buy bag of anything, it seems very expensive, around £70. Is this about the right price? I don't mind if this is the going rate, just don't want to get ripped off for not knowing enough! Any help, advice would be brilliant, thank-you

[good_egg]

Woodchip for outside.... Wood shavings would get very soggy, but can be used in the house (powder free) and bark has nasty mould spores that can cause problems.....

 

£70 doesn't sound bad - depends on the quantity though. I have just spent a fortune buying 20 bags from Flyte so Fancy but am trying to research an alternative for next time. It will last you about 6 months so not bad.

[merlina]

There's hardwood chips in a bulk bag on ebay at the moment for £45 (plus carriage). Have never used the supplier, so can't vouch for them, just saying you should be able to get cheaper than you suggested (others may have other sources)

 

Generally bark is considered a bad idea because it can harbour mould/spores/damp which are bad for the chooks. Shavings are usually ok for covered runs but not so good where it will get wet regularly.

[Princess Leia]

Woodchip, but make sure its hard wood not softwood (or bark). Check locally for a tree surgeon or gardening company who remove old trees. You can generally get a trailer load quite cheap.

[carrotspine]

Thanks everyone, that's really helped. Wood chip it is then , will check ebay now.....